Wiltshire bus network to benefit from £7m boost
The cash comes from the Department for Transport - in a bid to improve rural bus services
Bus services in Wiltshire are to get a £7m boost over the next two years thanks to funding from the Department for Transport.
The cash, which has been granted to Wiltshire Council, is part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to help improve bus services in the county.
It's hoped to bring a number of enhancements to services across the county, including services running longer and more frequently, as well as improving services to serve key areas such as healthcare or employment sites and improve passenger waiting facilities.
Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport, welcomed the cash injection.
“With this funding we can now build on the proposals outlined in our Bus Service Improvement Plan to provide more enhanced bus services across the county, as well as other investments to help improve the bus passenger experience.
“Most Wiltshire buses are £2 or less for a single journey, and although this will rise to a maximum single fare of £3 in January, it still represents great value to travel to work, to explore our beautiful county, or as an alternative to taking the car.
“We are investing significantly in buses across the county and are always looking at innovative ways to deliver the right services that benefit the most people, whether it’s our pioneering Wiltshire Connect services in the Pewsey Vale area, or the electric buses in Salisbury, which we’re working closely with Salisbury Reds on as part of the Government’s ZEBRA programme.
“We will continue to work closely with all our partner operators to provide bus services that enable people to travel around and explore our beautiful county.”